So it turns out my parents were completely surprised that I actually came to get the Pants. They went out because they knew I wasn't coming since I hadn't answered my phone and hadn't called them back yet (so I wonder whether my dad really intended to drive out to the airport as a Plan B). My mom didn't even bother to get the Pants ready for me since she knew I wasn't coming. The sense that they were subconsciously making the home a safe space for me to come get the Pants was in my head. OR WAS IT.

(Of course, the fact that we went back home to get the Pants before going to the airport caused us to hit heavy traffic on the way and make me late checking in, which would have been a disaster if my flight wasn't delayed. And this was supposed to prove the existence of God to me, according to my mom. My mom who wants me to repeat some mantra eleven times a day and fast for eleven Tuesdays, as this will help me get a good life partner. She did not respond to the fact that God delayed my flight for two more hours as we sat at the gate waiting for a storm to pass. Also, my dad is still angry at me, though he was calmer on the phone last night.)

P-C, I know it's hard, especially when your parents are trying to punish you, but this first step of asserting your independence was crucial. They're extremely attached to you, and even with fantastic relationships in the best of circumstances, the separation can be difficult.

I just got a flu shot and an awesome free seated massage at my office health fair. Score! Except that my arm hurts.

Was it the seasonal shot? That one hurt for a couple of days. H1N1, however, was pain-free.

Was it the seasonal shot? That one hurt for a couple of days.

Yeah, practically nobody in NYC has the H1N1 shot yet.

P-C, I know it's hard, especially when your parents are trying to punish you, but this first step of asserting your independence was crucial. They're extremely attached to you, and even with fantastic relationships in the best of circumstances, the separation can be difficult.

This. Every word of it.

Last night my mom asked if I wanted to come on a cruise with them over Christmas vacation, and I said I hadn't figured out my Christmas plans yet, and she said, "Okay, fine, whatever," and hung up, obviously having expected me to just say, "Sure!"

In better news, here are some e-mails from a woman who took my cancer pharmacology workshop:

Thanks again for the fantastic cancer pharmacology course - it was so well organized that it actually made sense to me!

I asked her who she was in the class, since my guess was she that was one of the more responsive ones who asked a few questions.

I was one of the cytosines, and sat at the front table to your left. I'm a regulatory medical writer with a basic biology background (from a long time ago!). I have little to no memory of organic chemistry, but was able to follow your presentation and I've been telling all my colleagues about it since getting back home!

My boss says I should set up a Facebook fan page for my workshop.

They went out because they knew I wasn't coming since I hadn't answered my phone and hadn't called them back yet (so I wonder whether my dad really intended to drive out to the airport as a Plan B). My mom didn't even bother to get the Pants ready for me since she knew I wasn't coming.

Actually, I'd call this a pretty encouraging sign. Whatever their anger or attitude, they a) accepted you weren't coming over and then b) went and made plans and did something else. That's huge.

It shows a lot more forward progression than the alternatives, which I think would be either sitting home and stewing and then hitting you for making them wait all day or going out with the intent of letting you not see them, which I can only imagine would have been presented as "if you hate seeing us so much we'll go away and you won't have to", i.e., another swipe at how insensitive or hurtful you are.

I was one of the cytosines

Not a sentence (or clause) you see every day.

Grammar-ly related -- we had a 45-minute discussion today (which hasn't been satisfactorily resolved) as to whether "none" is singular or plural. Answer: both, depending on the context. That drives me nuts! I need a hard and fast rule!

I can't think of a sentence where "None is" would be more appropriate than "None are," so I'ma vote plural.

Virtual damn fine cup a joe and slice of cherry pie to any Googler who finds me a decent image of Laura Palmer's tombstone. I only found this one, which has stupid greenery in the way. [link]

Obsessed? Me? Naw...